Liquid-measuring device.



C. E. STEERE. LIQUID MEASURING DEVICE. APPLlc/mon msn aufm. |915.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

'MIMI C. E. STEERE. LIQUID MEASURING DEVICE. APPLICATION mio was, :9|5.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

.SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. E. STEERE LIQUID NIEASURING DEVICE. APPucAnon FILED Aus.9. i915.

www?? v Patented Apr. l, 1919.

m um ,MN moooooloooo jS/e.'

YC. E. SIEEHE. Llouro MEASURING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-9, |915 im En STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE E. JS'I'EERE, o r CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assure/Non TosPnAGUE CANNING MACHINERY CCMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION oF ILLINOIS.

Application ined August e, 1915.

To all 11i/wm. 'it may concern Be it known that Ltmnsxcn E. S11-inns, a citizen ot' the United States, residingr at Chicago, in the county ot Cook and State of illinois, have invented new and useful 1mprovements iu ,Liquid-Mensaring Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference heilig had to the accouqmnyiug drawing, forming a part ot' this specification.

My invention relates to liquid measuring devices and moreV specifically to devices of this character used iu connection with cauning machinery.

(')ne of the objects of' my invention is to provide au' improved device t'or delivering a measured quantit)v ot liquid which shall be simple in construction and efricient` in operation, and which will not` waste the liquid, which will deliver accurate measured amounts and in which the measured amount delivered can be varied.

Further objects will appear f'rom the description to follow taken in connection with the. appended claims.

In the drawings,'iu which l have illus trated one embodiment ot" my invention Figure 1 is a plan view showing my improved measuriug devicey iu connection with avcan filling machine showingr the, liquid reservoir` the discharge outlets theretron'i, and showing in dotted lines the t'unuels which pass beneath the outlets;

Fig. 2 is i vertical section substantially on the line 2-12 ott Fig. l. showiugthc manuci' in which the reservoir is supported 0u thecan filling machine` and showing,r the drive mechanism for the valves which coutrol the outlets from the reservoir;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal secti/,on on thtx line SH3 of' Fig. i! looking (imtlir ql'irectibu of the arrows` showing' the bottlhn of' the reservoir and the outlet fittings iu place, thereon. and showiincr the drive mechanism for the valves which control the optlets'; Y

Fig. 4 is a vertical section ou the line 4-l ot' Fig. 1 showing the manner in which the outlet fittingr and measuring; chamber are. mounted with respect to the reservoir, and showing the valve meihanisui controlling "the inlet to and outlet t'roiu the measuring chamber;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-1-5 of' Fig. 3 showing the cam mechanism for actuating.r the inlet and outlet valves;

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. l, 1.919.

Serial No. 44,595.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line (5 6 ot' Fig. 1 showing in plan view the cam which actuates the valve:

Fig. 7 is a perspective view ot the valve actuating cam; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, showing,r the float valve mechanism controlling' the level of the liquid in the reservoir. Y

Referring lto'w to the drawing in detail. I have shown my improved measuring device in connection with a filling machine having a central vertical shaft 10 around which the filling tunnels or receivers 11. indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. a.e mounted to rotate. together with the member 12 which is utilized to drive the valve controlling mechanism ot' the measuring device. a supporting st ructure 13, a reservoir 11 mounted ou the structure 13. a measuring device 3S and drive mechanism 1G for controlling the measuring device. The supporting struc- -turc 13 comprises a bracket 1T. the inner end of which surrounds the shaft 10. a tubular support 1S ou which the outer cud 19 of the bracket 1T rests. a brace bar O resting on the top of the part 19` a rod 21 extending' through the tubular support 1S and openings Vin the part 19 and bar 20, and a nut: '22

threaded in the upper end of the rod 21.

The tubular support 1S. bar 20 and rod :El are secured to any suitable parts of the filling' machine (not shown). The bracket 1T has a base portion 23 to which the bottom plate '.34 ofthe reservoir-14 is secured h v means ol bolts The reservoir 14 is supplied with liquid from a supply pipe 26 which is screwed into a fitting 27 secured to the side walls of the reservoir 1l by means of bolts 2h'. float valve 29 is screwed into the fitting Q7 as shown at 30. This float vaive comprises a valve head 31y cooperating` with tive valve seat 32, rthe valve head 31 being' connected to a `float level' 33 which is pivotall v mounted at 34, and has a float 35 se* cured at its outer end. They reservoir 14 may he provided with a steam coil 36 for heating' the liquid. The bottom plate 24 has two openings 37 therein in which the measuring devices 38 are secured. As these measurinelr devices 38 are similar in construction a. description of one will sutlice for both. Each measuring device 38 comprises a` measuring.;r chamber 39. an annularllan'ge 40 fitting' Within the openingr 37,an annular flange ll within whit-h the measuring ehamber 3i) fits, a pas- Isage -iz aii'ording communication between the reservoir H and the measuring chamber 3i), an outlet passage 43 from the measuring chamber 39, and inlet and outletvalves 4i and 45, respectively, provided with valve stems -it and 4T, espeetively, slidable in sleeves 48 and it). The valves and 45 eo'iperate with valve seats 5() and 51 respectivel)v to eontrol the ilow of liquid to and fronrthe measuring chamber 39. rI`he valves 44 and' l5 are operated b v means of a earn 52 rotatably mounted on astud 53 which is secured within a sleeve 5i on theI measuring deviee 3S hv means ot' a sert, screw 55 (Fig. l). bushing 56y is provlded between theI cam 52 and stud 53. The cam 52 basan upstanding arcuate flange 57 having inelined portions 5S and 5i) for engagement with wear-resisting arms (Sti pivotally mounted at G1 between lugs G2 on the braeltet` o3, the hase (Si ot` wbieh is see'nred to the bottom plate of the reservoir` (Fig. 5). The ram 52 is driven from a spur gear (i5 whieh has formed integral therewith a flange titi whit-h is seem-ed to tlieeam 52 blv means of bolts (37. The valves i-i and 45 are normali)v held in elosed positionv by means ot 'springs 68 whit-h engage washers (i9 seeured to the valve :stems iii and 47. 'l`he measurlng Chamber 3i) comprises a eylindrical portion 7i) and a head 71 seeured thereon, packing rings TZ being provided at the top and bottom ol' the cylindrical portion Tt) to atlord a liquid tight. eonnection. The measuring chamber 3i) and the bead T1 are held in plaeel by means ot' rods 72% screwed into the i'lange portion `il and provided with mits iii above the head 71. A tubular air vent 7+ extends through a .sleeve ou the head 71` the sleeve 75 lbeing provided with integral annular grooves 7U to form a water pat-king between the sleeve, 75 unil tube T-i. A stuiling hov cap 77 may be sei-ew threaded onto the slet-u- 75 if desired to assist in making a liquid tight eonneetion` and also to l'rietionall'v hold the tube 7l in adjusted position. A baille plate 78 is serew threaded onto the lower end oF the tube T4. 'l`his baille plate extends in proximity to the elvlindrieal portion 7() ol the measuring deviee but does not eontaet therewith. A handle 75l is serew threaded onto the upper end oi' the tube 7l, the handle being hollow and eommunieating -with the interior oi' the tube 7-l and provided with a transversely extending baille plate 8th openings Rl being provided in the baille plate 80 to permit the eseape olair] 'l`he louille plate Ht) is provided with an annular dewnwardl)F extending lip HL" the purpose. ot wliieh is lo deileet an), liquid whieh may rush out through the tube 7l downwardl)A to prevent its eseaping through the openings Si. A gage H2 is seeured to the .side oll the reservoir 1-1 adjueent the handle 7l), the rim of the handle 79 cooperating with the mai-le ings on the gage as an indicator. The gears (l5 lboth mesh with a large gear 83 which is provided with a downwardlv extending hub portion H4 on which a sproe (et H5 is secured b v means ot' a Set serew 85, as shown in Fig. 2. The sproeket is driven by a sproeket ehain 86 which in turn is driven from a sproeket H7 having a eluteh portion 8H formed integral therewith for engagement with a eorrespomling eluteh portion Ht) slidablv mounted on the extension shaft 9i), a lrelv lil being provided to prevent relative rotation between the eluteh portion 89 and the extension shatt 90. l`he extension sbatt Si() is secured to a sleeve portion 92 of the driving eross-head U3 by means ot' a pin Sil. The driving eross-head S13 has downwardlv extending lugs 95 t'or engagement? with tbe driving member 12 which, as previously statt-(L rotates around the central f shaft 1t) of the fillingr maehine. 'l`he lugs 95 are engaged b v the driving member 12. so that when the driving member 12 rotates the driving eross-head 93 will rotatey along with it. The extension shaft il() is eonneeted to the sleeve portion E12 ot' the cross-head il?, b v means of the pin Sil, so that the ex tens-inn shaft Siti also revolves with the driving member 1;). rl`he eluteh portion t) is slidabl v but non-rolatabl \r mounted with re speel tothe shal't titl by means oi' the kev lll. wherein4 the eluteh portion Ht) may be moved vertiealtvY into or out of engagement with the eluteh portion BH on the sproeket 8T. Thus', when the elnteh portion H2) is moved into engagement with the eluteh portion 88. the sproeket H7 also will rotate with the, driving member l2. but when the eluteh portion HSI is lit'ted out otengagement with the. t'lillflLportion HH the extension shaft titl will rotate without eausing rotation ot the sproeltet Si'. bushing ill is provided be tween tht` sleeve portion 92 ot' the eros bead till and the sleeve portion titl of the brat-het 17.

Hearing washers JT are provided between the ventral shnl't lt) and the extension shalt llt). 'l`he spul' gear Sil is mounted on a lpin HH whieh is seeured in an opening 99 in the liraeket i7 b v means of a set serew 10U. The eluteh portions Htl and 8!) are provided with teeth lili the number -rl whieh is just baliI the number ot' the i'nnnels l1 oi' the lilling ninehine` the t'elation between the elutvh teeth lt)l the driving meebanism lt and the l'unnels li heilig sueh that when the. teeth otl the eluteh rome into driving engagement the outlet valves will be operated to eause the dist-barge i'rom the measuring chamber to be properly timed with respeet to the passage of the tunnels ll beneath the outlets.

lierause ofthe taet that the number of tbe Tunnels l1 is a multiple of the number of teeth 101` the operation of the valves will il (l nagaan always hey properly timed in respeet to the passage of the funnelis.

lt' follows from this eonstriietion that no matter in wliirh one ot the six possible posiv lione, the eluteh memhers Hu and 89 engage eaeli other. the operation of tho Valves will he propel-liY timed with respect to the passage ot the tunnels.

The operatii'in ol' my improved device is as follows. The reservoir 14 iti Supplied with the liquid whieh is to he delivertal to the tunnels ll through the supply pipe 2t?,

' wl of the liquid in they reservoir ll j maintained substantially constant. h5.' nii-aus ot' a tloat valve 25?. 'hen the eluteh imrtiuiui et? and Hit are moved to driving;` eugagrena-ut the eam 52 which controls the operati-'tri of' the valvesl ll and l?) is Caused to rotatl lgr means ot tha driving cross-head lill tl..u;;h the intermediate driving niet-hanism :minding the eluteh portions` Htl and 89, the sproeltet Sie spur lfear Bil and spur gears ttf, lletlauge Ti? ol' the van: 513 is so proportif Sluit one ot" the valrea -ll and l5 will he lined when the other is open and Vice ft-rsu. n'iwirmluir that the rana 52 is it. a position in uliuh the valve, ls rlosied and :he valve Yll opened the liquid will flow from the rw :iill past the valve ll, through the i i ghti into the measuring ehaiuber :lll: lilinid will rise in this measuring ehainher until it reaehe the lower edge of the rent time Tl and will then rise up into thu vent tuhe until the level oil the liquid inthe wut tube ia the same as the level of the liquid in the reservoir ll.

ln praetieeit has heen t'ound that, due to the rush ot the liquid iti the iueaauring` ehamiaif ll and up into the tuhe 7l, the

liquid in the tuhe will at lirst riae cousiderahly ahoi'e the lei'el ot' the liquid in the reservoir and will oseillate hat-l( and forth until it eomes to reist at the level of the liquid in the reservoir. To prevent the liquid rushing out the time Tl troni tas-raping at the top ofthe tuhe the handle il) is provided with the haflle plate Htl and with the downwardly extending annular lip ft2 which will obstruct the flou' ot' the liquid and direet it downward to eause it to he drained haak again into the tuhe il. The air in the, measurinelr rhaniher 239 attore the lower end of the air rent Tl iu trapped within the chamber as soon as the level ol' theY liquid therein rines to the lower end of the. vent tuhe so that no more air van est-ape from the 1ueasurine1 ehamher. 'l`he lower end of the vent tnhe Tl is. provided with a hallle plate 79 the purposewit whieh is' to insure aecuraey of the ineiusurixugr device` im in practice. it has heen found that without this hatlle plate the, upper surtaee ol' the liquid as it rises in the measuringr ehamher .'l.' was` in a diaturhed eonditiou .ao that the amount of air trapped in the measuring rhamlier waa not uniform.

lilith the use olV the hallle plate, however, the upper surfaee of the liquid as it rises in the measuring ehamher is smoothed out as it eomea iu eontaet with the hal'lle. plate insuring a uniform eutotl' ot' the air in the mea tiring chandler above the lower end of the rent tulle T-l. A. slight spare is left between the outer edge ot' the hatlle plate 75l and the inner surtaee ot the cylindrical portion 7() to prevent stieliingy of the hallle plate, and also to prevent eorrosion.

Alter the meaauring ehamher 7U has been tilled up to the lower end of the vent tube 74 the ram 52 operates to permit the valve ll to elose and to open t le Valve l5 to permit the liquid in the measuring ehamher 39 to he disrharged through the outlet nozzle 43 info the funnel 1t whieh is passing there-beneath. The distanea between the outlets of the two measuringdeviees on the reservoir Corresponds to the distanee hetween corresponding: parts ot the adjaeent l'unnels l1 so that two adjaeeut tunnels ll are hoth tilted at the riante time from the two measuring devices. lith thisv arrangement olf measuringr devieefs and tunnels earh measuriu; lr devieediseharges into alternate tunnels: that is. one measuring deviee will diseharge into the first, third and tit'th tunnels, while the other measuring deviee will diseharge into the seeoud, fourth and sixth. ete. The wear resistiiner members ttt) are provided hetween the ram 5:2 and the lower ends of the valve stems tti and 4T to prerent side pull on the valve stems and also to prevent wear.

llai ing` thus deserilied my invention what l elaim as new and desire to seein-e h v Letters Patent isz-- l. rThe eon'thination ith a reservoir ha"- ing an opening in its hottoni, and a eontainer outside ot' said reservoir ha ring au opening in its bottom. of n titting eompiisinga conduit eonneetiiq;n said openings, a ronduit leading from :said Container` \'al\'e means Controllingr both ot aid eouduits supported hy said tilting` and means for artuatiug' said valve means also supported hy said fitting, said valve means living vertu-ally movahle and .said artuatinpr means including a eam rotatable about a vertieal axis.

2. The roinhination with a reuervhir having an opening in its bottom, and a rontainer outside of said reservoir having ah opening in ital bottom. ol a fitting eompufsV ing;r a eouduit eouneetingr said, openings. a ronduit leading t'i'om .said eontaindr` valve means eontfrolling one ot' said eonduits sup` ported hy luaid fitting, said valve means ineludiug a stem slidahly mounted in `said fittinge uam means for aetuating said stein, and a pivoted wear-ri, sting inemher interpoised between said ram and stem.

Il. Yln a deviee of the rhararter ileiierilled, a reservoir haringr an outlet` a valve eon trolling said outlet. a series of eventi` spaeed titl receivers mounted in eireular arrangement to rotate about an axis and to move in sut.'- eession beneath said outlet, and driving means for said valve. and a toothed eluteh member interposed in said driving means, the number of said reeeivers being equal to or a multiple ot' the number of teeth on said elutch member.

4. The combination with a machine having a vertical shaft. and a Series of receifers mounted to revolve about said shaft` as an axis. of a liquid reservoir having a diseharge outlet beneath which said reeeivers pass as they revolve, a valve eontrolling .si-aid outlet. and means for operating said valve comprism ing a wheel rotatable about the axis of Said shaft.

5. The eombination with a machine having a vertical shaft, and a series of reeei vers mounted to revolve about said .shaft as an axis, of a liquid reservoir having a diseharge outlet beneath whieh said reeeivers pass as they revolve, means for supporting said res ervoir comprising a bracket having a sleeve. eoaxial with Said sbat't. a valve eontrolling said outlet, and means for operating said valve comprising a wheel rotatable about the axis of said shaft.

The eombination with a maehine having a vertical shaft. and a series of receivers mounted to revolve about said .shaft as an axis, of a liquid reservoir having a discharge outlet beneath whieb said reeeivers pass as they revolve, means for supporting said reservoir romprising a brat-liet having a sleeve eoaxial with said shaft, a valve eontroliing said outlet means for oneratiner said valve comprising a wheel rotatable about the axis' of said shaft, and a wheel rotatably snpported bv said braeltet and driven from said first wheel.

't'. ln a deviee of the (dass described. reservoir means having two spared outlets, two valves. one Controlling eath outlet. a series of evenly spared reeeivers mounted in eireular arrangement` to rotate about an axis and to move, beneath said outlets, the spaeing of the outlets eorresponding tothe spaeing of the reeeivers. and automatir means for operating said valves so that one reeeiver will be supplied from one outlet and the Sueeeeding rer'eiver supplied from the other outlet. said antonlatie means eomprising a eam t'or each valve. a gear for eaeh eam. and a singlev gear meshing with both said tirst` gears.

H. The eombination with a maehine having a vertieat shaft. and a series of reeeivers mounted to revolve about said Shaft'` as an axis. of a liquid reservoir having a dia'tbarge outletr beneath whieh said reeeivers pass as the)v revolve. meansl for supporting said reservoir eomprising a braehet having a sleeve eoaxial with .said shaft. a valve eontroiiing said outlet. and means for operating said valve comprising a sproeket wheel rotatable about the axis of said shaft. a sprocket wheel supported by said braeket. and a ehain eonneeting isaid sprocket wheels.

5|. The combination with a maehine having a vertieal shat't and a series of receivers mounted to revolve about said .shaft ae an axis. reservoir means having two spaeed outlets beneath whieh said reeeivers pass as they revolve. two valves. one for eaeh outlet, and means for operating Said valves eomprising a cam for eaeh valve. a gear *for each ram, a single gear meshing with both said first gears. and means for driving Said single gear eomprising a wheel rotatable about the axis of said shaft.

tt). 'lhe combination with a maehine having a vertical shaft and a series of reeeivers mounted to revoive about said shaft as; an axisreservoir means having two spaced outlets beneath wliieh said reeeivers pass as the)v revolve. two valves. one for eaeh outlet. and means for operating said valves Comprising a ram for eaeh alve, a gear for each eam. a single gear meshing with both Said tirst gears. and means for driving .said single gear comprising a sproeket wheel rotatable about the axis ot said sha ft. a sproeltet wheel eoaxial with said single gear and a rbain eonneeting said sproelcets.

11. A maehine for supplying liquid to reeeivera` comprising means t'or moving a series of reeeivers in a eireuiar path. a reservoii' loeated within the orbit ot1 said reeeivers. a eontainer lot'ated to one side ot' Said reservoir and substantialiv above the path ot' said receivers. a ronduit leading from said reservoir to said container for supplying iiquid to said eontainer. a eonduit leading from said rontainer to a posiY tion above the path of said ret'eivers. valve means for eontrolling said conduits. and means for periotlieallv aetuating Said valve means to deliver the amount of liquid measured b v said eontainer to a receiver.

l2. A maehine for periodically delivering measured quantities of liquid to reeeivers. eomprising means for moving a series ot ret-eivers in a eireular path. a reservoir lot-ated within the orbit of said reeeivers. a rortainer loeated to one side of said reservoir and substantially above the path of said ret'eivers, a ronduit ieading from said reser voir to said container for delivering liquid to said eontaiuer. a conduit leading from Said container to a position above the path of said receivers. valve meehanism for eontrolling said conduits. and aetuating means loeated beneath said reservoir for periodirally aetuating said valve means for delivering the amount of liquid measured by said rontainer to a reeeiver.

18. A maehine for delivering measured quantities ot' liquid to receivers. comprising means for moving a series of reeeivers in u circular path, a reservoir located within the orbit of said receivers, a container located to one side of said reservoir substantially above the path of said receivers, a fitting connecting said reservoir and container, said reservoir and container, respectively, having openings in their bottoms, said fitting having a passage leading downwardly from the opening the reservoir and upwardlyV into the opening in said container, for supplving liquid from said reservoir to said container, and a passage leading downwardly from the bottom of said container to a position above the ath of said receivers, for discharging liquid from said container to a receiver,A valve mechanism for controlling said passages, and actuating means for periodically actuating said valve mechanism to deliver the quantity of liquid measured by said container to a receiver.

14. A machine for delivering measured quantities of liquid to receivers, comprising means for moving a series of receivers in a circular path, a reservoir located inside the orbit of' said receivers and having an opening in its bottom, a container located to one side of said reservoir and substantially above the path of said receivers and having an opening in its bottom, a fitting connecting said reservoir and container having a passage leading downwardly from the opening in the reservoir and upwardly into the opening in `said container for supplying liquid from said reservoir to said container, and a passage leading downwardly from the bottom of said container for dlscharging liquid to a receiver, valve means for controlling said passages including vertically-acting lift-valve means for controlling the fiow through said first passage, and actuating means for periodically operating said valve means for delivering a quantity of liquid measured by said container to a receiver.

15. A machine for delivering measured quantities of liquid to receivers, comprising means for moving a series of' receivers in circular path, a reservoir located within the orbit of said receivers and having an opening in its bottom, a container located to one side of said reservoir substantially above the path of said receivers and having an opening in its'bottom, a fitting connecting said reservoir a d container having a passage leading do wardly from the opening in the reservoir and upwardly into the opening in said container for supplying liquid to said container, and a passage leading downwardly from the bottom of said container for delivering liquid to a receiver, verticallyacting lift-valve means for controlling the flow through said first passage, other vertically-acting lift-valve means for controlling the flow through said other passage, and actuating mechanism for periodically operating said valve means for delivering a quantity of liquid measured by said container to a receiver.

16. In a device of the class described, a first measuring chamber; an outlet therefor; a second measuring chamber; an outlet therefor; first and second receivers mounted to travel beneath said outlets; means for supplying liquid to said first measuring chamber as said first receiver travelsvbeneath said first outlet; means whereby liquid is supplied from said first measuring chamber through said first outlet to said second receiver as it travels beneath said first outlet; means for supplying liquid to said second measuring chamber as said second receiver travels beneath said second outlet; and means whereby liquid is supplied from said second measuring chamber through said second outlet to said first receiver as it passes beneath said second outlet.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE E. STEERE. Witnesses LELAND A. BABcocK, DANIEL G. FRENCH. 

